THE MURDER CASE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3766, 25 May 1907, Page 3

THE MURDER CASE.

Paget Found Guilty. Recommendation for Mercy. Wellington, Yesterday. The trial of Claude Paget, a carpenter, aged twenty-eight years, charged with the murder of Eleanor Pearl Axup, aged seventeen years, on February 12th, at the house of her parents, Abel Smith Street, Wellington, was concluded at the Supreme Court yesterday. The jury returned a verdict of guilty, with a strong recommendation to mercy. Sentence of death was passed by Mr Justice Cooper. The jury went out to consider their verdict at 5.2 p.m., and returned at 6 o’clock with a verdict of “ guilty,” adding a rider that after hearing the medical evidence they were of opinion that the accused was an epileptic, and was in one of the stages of epilepsy at the time he committed the deed, wherefore the jury strongly recommended him to the clemency of the court.

The Sentence.

The prisoner was then called upon to state if he had anything to say why sentence ot death should not be passed upon him. He made no answer, but stood staring vacantly at the judge. His Honor, who was much affected, said : —Prisoner, the jury having found you guilty of the murder of Pearl Axup, with a rider recommending you to the clemency of the Court, it only remains for me to pass the last sentence of the law upon you. I shall have the jury’s rider forwarded to the authorities, and I have no doubt it will meet with due and proper consideration. The sentence of the Court, is that you be taken to the place whence you came, and thence to the place of execution, where you will be hanged by the neck until you are dead. Remove the prisoner. Paget turned and without assistance walked down the steps to the cells below.

His Honor thanked the jury for their services, and expressed his appreciation of the manner in which they had considered the case. Their recommendation to mercy would be forwarded by His Honor to his excellency the Governor, together with a report upon the case, and His Honor had no doubt it would receive due and merciful consideration.

The foreman, Mi G. Petherick, said the jury desired to thank the Registrar and Constables Pearce and Mckelvie for the attention they received while locked up. They had been supplied with all their requirements.